A Detailed Commentary On Act 3 :: essays research papers

Write a detailed commentary on the extract interpretedfrom Act 3, Scene 4When we read &8216 power Lear&8217 for the front clock time we are presented, on the whole, with a pessimistic view of men and society. In other parts of the bid Regan, Gonerill and Edmund define treachery, whereas the character of Kent creates a stark contrast, showing us a strong sense of loyalty by following and supporting Lear throughout his torment. Remembering that Kent was betrayed by Lear in the first scene of the play, this emphasises the goodness of Kent&8217s character. At the beginning of the extract Lear asks &8216wilting detect my heart?&8217 In response to this Kent declares &8216I had rather break mine own&8217. This is just one of many examples in the play where Kent is willing to take Lear&8217s suffering upon himself. Every time Kent enters we imbibe a feeling of relief because he is there to fight evil, a personification of the rare goodness of mankind. Kent also shows his loyalty and steadfastness for his King in the way in which he tries to shelter him from the do. When Kent says that &8216The tyranny of the brusk night&8217s too rough for nature to endure&8217, he is really trying to make Lear think it is the set upon that is to blame for his discomfort, although Kent is full aware of the true reasons for Lear&8217s pain.In the play &8216King Lear&8217 melancholy reaches the utmost depths that any Shakespearean character has ever portrayed. In this finical extract the storm taking place on the heath symbolises and runs correspond with the storm in Lear&8217s soul. His mind is so wracked with the treachery of his twain daughters that he actually finds comfort in nature&8217s unrelenting elements. This is conveyed when Lear says that the tempest&8230&8220&8230will not give me leave to ponderOn things would hurt me more.No matter how much physical discomfort the storm inflicts, Lear feels that in comparison to his mental torment the storm is of little si gnificance&8220This tempest in my mindDoth from my senses take all feeling else palliate what beats there.At the beginning of the extract, Shakespeare uses Lear&8217s reference to the &8216contentious storm&8217 to show us the extent of his suffering. He tells us that the storm&8230&8220&8230invades us to the skin so &8216tis to thee,But where the greater malady is fixed,The lesser is barely felt.This reference to the word &8216contentious&8217 also gives us an insight into Lear&8217s state of mind.